I love that the twinks are learning to read.
Years ago, when I was a reading teacher, I worked with kids who struggled. I went to all kinds of training conferences and read loads of books on the subject and came away feeling truly amazed that anyone, anywhere EVER learned to read.
Phonemic awareness, one-to-one matching, concepts of print. So much had to be in place before the average kindergartener or first-grader could even begin to decode Cat in the Hat or Mrs. Wishy-Washy.
Of course, this was during my baby hungry years. So when I wasn't studying up on Reading Recovery strategies, I was poring over Conception and You and Getting Pregnant Naturally. I learned words like motility, injectables and basal body temperature. I came away feeling truly amazed that anyone, anywhere EVER had a baby.
Babies are a miracle. Reading is too. Having four kids who can find meaning from letters on a page is a wonder I do not take for granted.
I told Brad long before our kids came along that I was confident I could teach all of our kids to read before they started kindergarten. I had lots of experience and tricks up my sleeve.
Of course, that was before potty-training destroyed my self-esteem.
So, I got smart. I let the teachers do the teaching and I do the fun stuff. Trips to the library and bedtime stories and reading Wizard of Oz one chapter at a time. It's a whole lot better that way.
Anyway. I love my kids. I love to read. I love having kids who love to read. It may not seem like a huge accomplishment to anyone else. But, for me, it's truly amazing.
14 comments:
My mom taught all of us to read before we started kindergarten. I've always sworn I would do the same. But watching my nieces and nephews with their parents has been eye-opening. Sometimes it happens, and sometimes it doesn't. I think taking them to the library and whatnot is the most important part anyway. :)
Oh but this is SO amazing! Think where reading takes you...think about the joy you've gotten from books yourself and now your kids are getting that? I love seeing my nieces and nephews read and the best is when the little 6 year olds in Primary can read the words on my posters. Reading rocks!
I, too, find it amazing when my kids have learned to read. It's like suddenly, one day, the words start making sense on the page and they can read. Love that you've created four readers, too.
Loving to read and having children who love to read opens a whole new world of communication between parent and child. It's one of my great joys in life.
Sometimes talking about books is the only communication between parent and child, and keeps the gate open at least a crack. It can be completely neutral ground at times when life seems to be a mine field.
I couldn't agree more. I remember many trips to the library with my mom and I want my kids to have those same memories. I have blocked out all thoughts of potty training my kids but the moment they "got it" with reading-I'll never forget.
That's such a great philosophy.
I just went to Literacy Night and was amazed at the awesomeness of learning how to read. But, I came home thinking, am I doing enough? will they like it when they're older? and comprehension... I didn't even think about that.
It's really just so great. And, it's funny how lots of people credit the preschool their kid is in, or the fact that they read in the womb. It's really the amazingness that is the child.
We do enjoy the Mo Willems books too. Isn't he the coolest?
Yes, seeing as how I only have two that really do, i is a miracle. I love reading to my kids, too and I always thought that kids catch up so they don't need to know it before Kindergarten. I'm spending enough time teaching doctrine and principles. :-)
TRU DAT and A-MEN!
I get it. Watching my littles learn to read is 100% thrilling for me. THRILLING I tell you! One of my favorite parenting moments so far.
Reading is such a wonderful, virtuous hobby and I really hope that my children won't just read well, but will love to read and never be able to put down their books!
I too was a reading specialist... I am tutoring two kiddos right now who are dyslexic. I use an amazing curriculum that I wished I had known about years ago. Thankfully my girls have never struggled with reading but I know the miracle that it is to watch them read.
Gabi,after reading this post, I feel closer to you that ever before! Before I started having kids I used to help kids that struggled with reading and I was sure that all of my kids would be reading well before Kindergarten. Every one of my boys has struggled to read. For some reason it just takes them a while to catch on. I agree with what you said...it really is a miracle that it comes together for anyone.
That is so wonderful that your boys are reading!!
I have loved watching my kids learn to read. It opens up the world! I've learned, after seeing the differences in my 6 kids, that it really is a lot like potty training. The child has to be ready. Otherwise it's a lot of frustration for all involved. But when they are ready and willing, each word they learn belongs to them. They start to see "their words" everywhere. Maybe you're already aware of it, but one of my kids really enjoyed the website at starfall dot com. It does a great job of teaching some of the tricks ("When two vowels go a walking, the first vowel does the talking"...).
Reading is one of the true joys of my life. I have known people, been to exotic places, experienced every emotion in the world through my books. Having the ability to read is like having every door and every adventure in the world opened wide. That exact moment when your little one reads an entire sentence and then tells you what it means....ah....priceless. And the universe becomes theirs for the exploring. Lucky little twinks!!! THis post made me happy.
I remember the Thanksgiving when the primary leader asked the kids what was their favorite blessing this year. Marta raised her hand and said, "I can read." It's a joy to have their eyes opened to the wonder of books! I know they're following your example.
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